Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 4V332000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: COIL SPRINGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE 1999 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND RIPPED THE TIRE APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR PRIOR INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 176,000. UPDATED 12/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10
FRT AND REAR SPRINGS ON MY 97 FORD TAURUS BROKE PREMATURE. *TR
DRIVING AT 30MPH WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD RATTLE/CLANKING NOISE. A FEW SECONDS LATER A PIECE OF LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND FELL OFF MY CAR. I WAS <1 MILE FROM HOME SO I PICKED UP THE PIECE AND RETURNED SAFELY. I DID NOTICE THE BRAKES WERE GOING OUT. ONCE I RETURNED I FOUND MY BRAKE FLUID LINE WAS SEVERED BY THE COIL SPRING. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE CAR YET. IT IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY UNUSABLE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE TIME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT SO I WASN'T GOING VERY FAST I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR WAS ALMOST SITTING ON THE FRONT TIRE I WAS GLAD THAT I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE TIME. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OF MY OTHER CARS .I WOULD THINK THE SPRINGS ARE STRONGER THAN THAT. THANK GOD I WASN'T GOING FAST.......*JB
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1997 FORD TAURUS. I WAS IN CLARENDON HILLS, IL FROM JULY 22ND UNTIL JULY 31ST. ON JULY 26TH I SPENT THE DAY DRIVING MY CAR. AFTER I PARKED MY CAR AT THE HOTEL IT WAS AN HOUR LATER WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN A HISSING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT DOWN TO MY CAR. IT WAS AT THAT TIME I NOTICED MY CAR WAS SUNK DOWN. I WENT TO CHANGE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS STUCK INTO THE SIDE OF IT. THE COIL SPRING SURROUNDING THE STRUT BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE MAKING IT GO FLAT INSTANTLY. I SPOKE TO TWO PEOPLE THAT MORNING THAT WERE STANDING OUTSIDE AND WITNESSED IT THE NIGHT BEFORE. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. MY CONCERN IN THIS MATTER IS THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY. WHAT IF I HAD DRIVEN ANOTHER HOUR? I FEAR IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MY TIRE WENT FLAT INSTANTLY AND IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AND POSSIBLE DEATH. I SPENT THE WHOLE MORNING CALLING REPAIR SHOPS. I FIRST BECAME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS WHEN I CALLED THE FIRST REPAIRMAN AND HE KNEW EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I HAD. HE SAID HE FIXES THIS PROBLEM ON FORD TAURUS' BETWEEN TWO OR THREE TIMES A MONTH. AFTER THIS I PROCEEDED TO CALL A FORD DEALERSHIP EXPECTING A RECALL. THE GENTLEMAN KNEW NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE FORD TAURUS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS ON OLDER AND NEWER MODELS OF THE TAURUS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND OWN A 2001 FORD TAURUS AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON THEIR CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALL THAT WAS DONE WAS PUT A SHIELD AROUND THE COIL SPRING SO THAT WHEN IT DOES BREAK IT DOES NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. WHY WOULD THEY NOT HAVE A RECALL AND JUST REPLACE IT? I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $700. I DO HAVE THE OLD COIL SPRING THAT BROKE. I DO FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *NM
1WHILE DRIVING 1997 TAURUS SHO AT 38672 MILES, THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN. *TS THE INCIDENT DESTROYED THE CONSUMER'S SNOW TIRE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT MAYBE THIS IS A NORTHEASTERN PROBLEM DUE TO THE SALT AND MOISTURE THAT CAUSES THE SPRING TO DETERIORATE. FORD ANNOUNCED 900000K TAURUS' FROM 1999-2001 WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM THAT THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED. *SC
RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. FORD HAS A RECALL FOR TAURUS MODEL YEARS 1999-2001 FOR THIS EXACT FAILURE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODEL YEARS. I WAS LUCKY, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON OPEN HIGHWAY.
RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. FORD HAS A RECALL FOR TAURUS MODEL YEARS 1999 - 2001 FOR THIS EXACT FAILURE. AS THIS IS A CRITICAL FAILURE MODE, I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE EARLIER MODEL YEARS.
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING FRONT COILS SPRINGS WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE WHEN OPERATED IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS. *NM *SC THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT 5 MONTHS BEFORE GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER WOULD ONLY REPLACED THE COIL SPRING IF THEY CRACKED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFLATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING SHEARED OFF AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE IN THE PROCESS. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE MADE A CLUMPING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE HEARD THE NOISE, BUT COULD NOT TELL FROM WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
FRONT END WAS LOW DUE TO BOTH COIL SPRINGS BEING CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE FROM FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION, CONSUMER SAW THAT LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. RIGHT ONE WAS CORRODED, AND WAS REPLACED AS WELL.*AK *TT
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT
VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITHOUT SHAKING VIOLENTLY. 57500 MILES AT THE TIME, $1900 TO FIX IT. *AK ****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****749177.
ENGINE IS KNOCKING AS CONSUMER ACCELERATES WITH SPEED. *AK TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 37OOO MILES. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 15000 MILES. ROTORS FAILED AT 24000 MILES. *YH
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MPH, A LOW HUMMING NOISE IS HEARD, ON 3/8/00 DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT HUB BEARINGS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR CAUSING NOISE. CJ
PROBLEM 1: DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FRONT END VIBRATION AT SPEEDS AT OR OVER 40 MPH, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE-ROD ENDS ON A CAR JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PROBLEM 2: DISCOVERED THE SAFETY INFORMATION PLACARD ON THE DOOR POST DOES NOT LIST MANDATROY INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE AIR PRESSURES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL REFERS TO THIS PLACARD, BUT ALSO DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION.*AK
SQUEAKING IN FRONT END, HAD TO HAVE TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED THEN THERE IS STILL A POPPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN I TURN THE WHEELS TO MAKE A TURN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED DUE TO THE TORSION BAR FAILURE. DEALER IS REWELDING THE TORSION BAR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OWNER SAW THAT THE REAR END SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FIRST, AND LATER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS JERKING AND MAKING LOUD NOISES, AND THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SPIN, AND THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THERE IS VIBRATION WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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